Does anybody here take the Greens seriously?

[briantrumpet]

Summer tyres which are fitted to all cars as standard are shite in snow.
Why all seasons aren't fitted as standard I don't know.

Worse fuel consumption?

 

[Dorset Boy]

Worse fuel consumption?

Don't think that's the case for all seasons over the year.
Yes it may be true of full winter tyres though.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Worse fuel consumption?

Nah. I've had four new all-season tyres on my car since Monday and I haven't noticed any difference...and I've done about 20 miles.

 

[Pblakeney]

Summer tyres which are fitted to all cars as standard are shite in snow.
Why all seasons aren't fitted as standard I don't know.

I doubt that's the reason as I never had snow tyres prior to 2010.
That said, I now use all seasons year round (who can be bothered with the faff of changing wheels/tyres?) to no detriment.

 

[First Aspect]

Is there actually a “water shortage” nationally, or, is the water just in the “wrong place”?

Yes, it is in the sea.

i.e. We don't collect enough of it.

 

[BoldonLad]

Yes, it is in the sea.

i.e. We don't collect enough of it.

Perhaps, we don’t collect enough of it where it is consumed?, but, overall (ie Nationwide) we collect enough.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

They obviously didn't take this Green Councillor seriously 😯

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdm20051pzo

 

[Psamathe]

Perhaps, we don’t collect enough of it where it is consumed?, but, overall (ie Nationwide) we collect enough.

I don't know the numbers but recently been a lot of talk of farmers wanting it to be easier to get permission to build reservoirs on their land. I'm uncertain as:

1. Are they just looking to water crops and maintain existing farming practice rather than adapt their farming to the changing climate?

2. Where are they intending to get the water from to fill their reservoirs? eg pumping from rivers will impact the river and would need significant controls. And how many farms have adequate sizes rivers on their land?

3. Does a reservoir on a farm to water that farm's crops actually provide enough water to have a meaningful impact?

4. Cost. Planning for and building a reservoir is going to be expensive. Farms are continually talking about their currently operating at a loss. Build the cost of reservoirs into the cost of their produce and imports become even cheaper (comparatively).

 

[BoldonLad]

I don't know the numbers but recently been a lot of talk of farmers wanting it to be easier to get permission to build reservoirs on their land. I'm uncertain as:

1. Are they just looking to water crops and maintain existing farming practice rather than adapt their farming to the changing climate?

2. Where are they intending to get the water from to fill their reservoirs? eg pumping from rivers will impact the river and would need significant controls. And how many farms have adequate sizes rivers on their land?

3. Does a reservoir on a farm to water that farm's crops actually provide enough water to have a meaningful impact?

4. Cost. Planning for and building a reservoir is going to be expensive. Farms are continually talking about their currently operating at a loss. Build the cost of reservoirs into the cost of their produce and imports become even cheaper (comparatively).

Yes, I have seen some of that. My impression was that it was just an industrial version of my 5 * 100l Water Butts. Presumably it would be helpful during the transition from current practice to climate adapted practice. I am not a farmer, but, presumably, it cannot happen over night. Plus, consumers need to adapt too, Drought resistant crops may not taste exactly as current versions.

I would add, my farming knowledge is based on watching Countryfile, and enjoying walking/cycling in the Countryside, ie, not exactly an expert.

 

[briantrumpet]

I don't know the numbers but recently been a lot of talk of farmers wanting it to be easier to get permission to build reservoirs on their land. I'm uncertain as:

1. Are they just looking to water crops and maintain existing farming practice rather than adapt their farming to the changing climate?

2. Where are they intending to get the water from to fill their reservoirs? eg pumping from rivers will impact the river and would need significant controls. And how many farms have adequate sizes rivers on their land?

3. Does a reservoir on a farm to water that farm's crops actually provide enough water to have a meaningful impact?

4. Cost. Planning for and building a reservoir is going to be expensive. Farms are continually talking about their currently operating at a loss. Build the cost of reservoirs into the cost of their produce and imports become even cheaper (comparatively).

1. I would assume both – it's not an either or. Since the dawn of farming, farmers have had to adapt to whatever the climate throws at them.

2. Currently *all* water abstraction is under licence, and has stated limits.

3. Depends on the crop. Potatoes, for instance, respond very well to irrigation.

4. As a lot of farmers work on a permanent overdraft, it just becomes a reasonably forecastable business expense.

One thing that *really* pisses me off is seeing farmers irrigate by spray irrigation during the hottest part of the day, as a lot of it hits leaves an just evaporates. (I've seen it a lot in this bit of France and further south.) It should be illegal to irrigate between (say) 10am and 6pm. If it means farmers having to work during the night, then so be it.

There's still a long way to go, both in what will grow where, and the practice/science of irrigation, in a world where water is going to be central to survival. I so wished I saved the few exchanges over on Cake Stop where I was laughed at for suggesting that uninterrupted and copious food supply, even in the UK, in an uncertain world was far from guaranteed.

 

[First Aspect]

I don't know the numbers but recently been a lot of talk of farmers wanting it to be easier to get permission to build reservoirs on their land. I'm uncertain as:

1. Are they just looking to water crops and maintain existing farming practice rather than adapt their farming to the changing climate?

2. Where are they intending to get the water from to fill their reservoirs? eg pumping from rivers will impact the river and would need significant controls. And how many farms have adequate sizes rivers on their land?

3. Does a reservoir on a farm to water that farm's crops actually provide enough water to have a meaningful impact?

4. Cost. Planning for and building a reservoir is going to be expensive. Farms are continually talking about their currIently operating at a loss. Build the cost of reservoirs into the cost of their produce and imports become even cheaper (comparatively).

I have been hearing this is about collecting from rain and existing streams. There are bound to be knock on effects. I'd also be worried about use of aquifers and of maintenance issues, c.f. all of the unmaintained private dams they now have in the US.